Making White Beautiful ????

[94gpse]

As you can see by my signature I have a white camaro. Now I am completely insane when it come to keeping it spotless. Anyway I am getting the ole christmas list together and I am wondering what products to get to make my white car as shiny and deep as possible for white. I already have #16,20,tech wax,GC,#26 so I am set for wax. I was thinking #83 for a cleaner, and I want to know what polish from the professional line would be the best to help me achive my goal. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Mike Phillips]

Hi 94gpse,

I would suggest picking up a quart of the #80 Speed Glaze. Easy to work with, produces awesome results.

Mike

[94gpse]

I will have to add some of that #80 to my list. While I am in the detailing 101 forum. I have a question for you Mike. My dad has a Red 92' F150 that has paint that is extremely oxidized. I would like to get it at least looking somewhat shiny. The paint condition is like the el camino "mark70vette" recently did. I tried 3M rubbing compound and also #1 with decent results but they could be better. I just got a hold of a bottle of #84 and #85. Which should I try?? I do BTW have a rotary. My second question is, once I get the paint looking good how do I keep the oxidation from coming back??? Most of the time it comes back within about a week. Any help would be great. Thanks

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Just until Mike chimes in....

I would do a test spot with the least aggressive products first. If something like DACP and a W-8006 Polishing Pad with the rotary spinning 1750 RPM. If this does not do it, then I would move on to the #84 Compound Power Cleaner and a W-7006 Cutting Pad. Keep running the rotary at 1800 RPM or so. I have rarely found a vehicle that required more aggressive than that. Usually I reserve the #85 Diamond Cut and the W-4000 Wool pad for removing wet sanding marks only.

Preventative maintenance is required to prevent the oxidation from re-occuring. Red is a difficult color, but if maintained will look great for years!!

But in your post, you state it comes back in a week. If that is true, then something is not right. Is it a BC/CC finish? If it is, has anyone aggressively polished it before?

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Tim

[wblynch]

Don't forget the clay.

I washed my wife's red '97 Mustang tonight and had only enough time to clay the front end and apply some NXT Tech Wax by hand.

The clay works like 'magic' and now when you wipe your hand across the hood and front fenders it's as smooth as pudding.

The doors and backend got no more than the wash and rubbing them feels like sand paper.

Using Quick Detailer as a lubricant, once I started rubbing with the clay, the sandpaper feel disappeared in seconds and the smooth, silky paint below emerged.

Just remember, don't drop the clay. If you do, you must discard it and get another piece.

I do need to run some #83 or #80 by machine to get the swirls out but that will have to wait for the weekend.

I just wanted to comment on what amazing results such a simple procedure as claying can bring.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Hi 94gpse,

I would suggest picking up a quart of the #80 Speed Glaze. Easy to work with, produces awesome results.

Mike

I agree with this choice too....#80 is awsome stuff.

[magnus]

94gpse,

Just finished a long weekend of working on my new Volvo. Still have a lot to do on the exterior, but even more on the interior, but at least it is prepared for the start of winter.

Here's what I did:

Day 1
1. Washed wheels with Gold Class All Wheel Cleaner
2. Washed with Joy (no Dawn in the house).
3. Washed again with #00 Hi-Tech Wash
4. Clayed with #00 and Quik Clay System

Day 2
1. Taped off windows, lights, and black plastic trim.
2. Used my G-100a and #82 Swirl Free Polish. I chose #82 over #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish as this is a new car as of May and only had light swirling and scratches. I thought #83 would be too aggressive.

Day 3
1. Went over the whole car again with #82, as I was not happy with the results from the first pass. Did a little reading and slowed my process and worked the product until almost clear. Ended up a lot smoother and a lot less swirls.

Day 4
1. Polished with the G-100 and M-07 Show Car Glaze. I read through Mike's post on Autopia and found his method to work quite well, without hassle.
2. Waxed with the G-100 and Meguiar’s NXT Generation Tech Wax. I have a can of Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax, but chose the NXT for durability as this is a daily driver over mostly muddy roads. Left each coat (2 total) on for 30-45 minutes (lunch break) then buffed off with Ultimate Bonnet . Approximately 4 hours between the 2 coats.
3. Pulled all tape off.
4. Washed windows with 2 terry cloth towels, one wet (water), on dry. Re-cleaned windows with Stoner Invisible Glass.
5. Cleaned all trim and tires with #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner.
6. Dressed trim and tires with #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner.

Day 5
1. Waxed inside of doors, deck lid, and hood with NXT.
2. Took these photos with my new Christmas present (Nikon D70):





3. Went inside and played video games for the rest of the day.

Wife is tickled pink. Now I need a vacation from my vacation!

[94gpse]

WOW! Your Volvo looks great, That is the best I have seen white. I am going to have to pick up some of the #82 #83 and #7. 2HotFord, I think the truck is single stage??? When I use the wool pad on my rotary it pulls up red. When we first got the truck back in April I used a rotary with 3M rubbing compound and some prestone wax, That is the most cleaning that has ever been done to it, besides regular washing once every 2 weeks. What can I say my car is taken care of better than the truck. I will try to get a pic of the truck up here today.

[RDVT4ME]

I think the secrect to making white look good is to make sure it is really clean. I just did a 3 year old white escape that had been pretty neglected. The claybar will really help bring the bright white back. Then following up with the other products suggested and you will be very happy.

[Lt1Corvette]

White Camaro's
Why is it everytime I see one I always think of this
:
Followed by smoking brake pads, warped rotors, and seatbelt bruises!

With that out of the way, I have found that clay is great for white cars. I really seems to bring back that bright white. I usually like to top that with #20. I fell that it gives a white car the best glossy finish out of any of the other waxes I have tried.

Good luck and have fun keeping the rest of us at the speed limit

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Lt1Corvette

Followed by smoking brake pads warped rotors, and seatbelt bruises!

Tim

[JeepZJlover]

what the heck is that is that an actual police camaro? Im not a fan of chevys but that just looks bada$$

[scrub]

I agree with the products mentioned so far. Another product I've had great results with is Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner. I wouldn't have believed it myself but it does remove some stains out of white to make it brighter. Plus it will help on the red F150. I'd also recommend ColorX for the F150.

Give it a try.

magnus
Very nice write up!

[94gpse]

I will have to buy a bottle of MPPC and give it a shot.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I have to agree with Scrub! I have had great success with MPPC on white paint. Another product that I get exceptional results from on white, but is rotary buffer only, is Meguiar's #2 Fine Cut Cleaner!

Tim